Underwater breathing device

ABSTRACT

An underwater breathing device to reduce the occurrence of caisson disease (bends), oxygen poisoning, and nitrogen narcosis in divers descending or ascending in the sea. The device provides, on demand of the diver or on a bleed basis, a correctly stabilized, pressurized and proportioned combination of gases to provide for favorable underwater breathing. In the device, the carbon dioxide exhaled by a diver is mixed with a mixture of gases released and the mixture is then bubbled through ambient water to remove the carbon dioxide prior to entry into a storage tank, the contents of which are pressurized to ambient water pressure. A supply of the mixture is then passed to a breathing chamber, from the storage tank, on each demand of the diver with said storage tank supply simultaneously being replenished with the gas mixture.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Albert Boatwright 3,316,905 5/1967Seller 128/147 10020 3 213 33157 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet 1232Assistant Examiner-J. B. Mitchell 1 A r --J '1 45 Patented Jan. 19,1971

An underwater breathing device to reduce the 19 Claims I Drawinoccurrence of caisson disease (bends), oxygen poisoning, and g 8-nitrogen narcosrs 1n divers descending or ascending m the sea. LS C1128/142-2, Th device rovides on demand of the diver on a bleed ba-.

55/ 128/145 sis, a correctly stabilized, pressurized and proportionedcom- [51] Int. Cl A621) 7/04, bination of gases to provide for f blunderwater Bold 47/02 breathing. In the device, the carbon dioxideexhaled by a diver [50] Field ofSearch 128/1422, i mixed with a mixtureof gases released and the mixture is 142, 142-5 -7, then bubbled throughambient water to remove the carbon 145 .5-.8,191,202;55/256;261/121l2dioxide prior to entry into a storage tank, the contents of which arepressurized to ambient water pressure. A supply of [56] References Cltedthe mixture is then passed to a breathing chamber, from the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS storage tank, on each demand of the diver with saidstorage 3,124,131 3/1964 Gross 128/145 tank supply simultaneously beingreplenished with the gas 3,228,394 1/1966 Ayres 128/142 mixture.

UNDERWATER BREATHING DEVICE the smaller blood vessels. However, researchin recent years at various universities and hospitals has led theresearchers to conclude that divers who .get thebends may be injuredbecause their blood flow slows down under rapid decompression, notbecause they get nitrogen bubbles in the blood.

Research in which animals were subjected to great pressures, asexperienced in deep diving, and then decompressed rapidly disclosedthat, after decompression, the bloodflow in the smallest vessels, thecapillaries, slowed down. This happened because plasma drained outthrough the vessel walls {into the spaces betweenthe capillaries and thecells, making {the blood remaining inside the vessels thick, sludgy andslow moving. The complete absence of gas emboli (obstructions) in severebut nonlethal decompression sickness was noted.

lt hasbeen concluded by these researchers that the bends or caissondisease is caused by the lack of oxygen to the tissues that results froma reduced flow of blood and that gas embolism o'nly occurs as a terminalresult;

The foregoing parallels of thought by the various researchers forms thebasis of the instant invention, one of the principal objects .of whichis to provide an underwater breathing device whereby adiver canmechanically calibrate the proportions of a plurality of gases flowinginto the breathing device through an automatic depth compensatingcalibrated mixture in proportion to the depth of the water.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide the proportionedgases to the diver selectively on a demand or bleed basis, demand airbeingprovided each time the diver inhales or, if desired, adjustment canbe made to provide a constant supply of proportioned gases to the diveron a regulated bleed basis.

A further object of this invention is to recirculate carbon dioxideexhaled by the user'by introducing it into and mixing it with othergases and bubbling the mixture through ambient water to break themixture into a soluble solution whereby the carbon dioxide is dissipatedin the water prior to entry of the gas mixture into a storage tank to bedrawn upon for breathing purposes.

Yet another object is to provide filter means at the mouth of saidstorage tank comprising, a diffuser filter to further break the gasbubbles into smaller particles, and a chemical filter immediatelythereafter to remove any remaining impurities therefrom, to provide afavorable gas mixture for underwater breathing.

Still another object of the present invention is to utilize am- .bientwater to pressurize the gas mixture in the storage tank to ambient waterpressure.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide amouthpiece in open communication with a breathing chamber .through whichthe proportioned, pressurized gases from the storage tanks are drawneach time the diver inhales.

. Yet another object of this inventionis to utilize ambient waterpressure to actuate valve means to charge the breathing chamber,communicating with the mouthpiece, with the proportioned, pressurizedgases from the storage tank when the pressure in said chamber dropsbelow ambient water pressure due to inhaling by the diver, and tosimultaneously actuate another valve means to recharge the storage tank.

in accordance with these and other objects and advantages which willbecome more fully apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a semischematic, exploded. perspective view of the underwaterbreathing apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference numerals designate likeor similar parts throughout, the numeral 10 generally indicates aplurality of gas supply hoses extending from respective pressurized gastanks (not shown) containing various gases which, when preconditioned bebeing correctly proportioned and pressurized, provide for idealunderwater breathing. The gases pass through the: hoses l0.into an automatic depth compensating gas proportioner 12 which will be understoodfully from the following disclosure. From the proportioner 12, the gaspasses through a singular hose 14 to a bleed or demand valve assembly16. From the valve assembly 16the proportioned gases pass through aninlet manifold 18, and a pair of transfer tubes 20 and 22 to a pair oftubular mixing chambers 24 and 26 where the preconditioned gas mixture,turepasses through one-way valves 28 and 30, in the respective gasmixing chambers, into respective air bubble release filters 32 and 34 atthe lower distal ends of the mixing chambers 24 and 26. Each of thefilters 32 and 34 is provided with a multiplicity of very smallapertures 36 to break the gas into extremely small bubbles which arereleased and rise through ambient water 38 to be collected in anautomatic pressurizing and storage tank 40. in effect, the pressureequalization to compensate for the depth takes place by reason of therelease to the ambient water. As illustrated in the drawing, the bubblerelease filters are positioned beneath the open lower end of the tank 40with said end carrying a diffuser filter 42 and a chemical filter 44immediately thereabove for a purpose to be further described inconjunction with a detailed description of the operation of the device.

The pressurizing and storage tank 40 supplies ideal breathable gas to ahigher or elevated breathing chamber 46, within a housing indicatedgenerally at 48, via a one-way check valve 50, an intake and exhaustmanifold 52., and an intake and ex- .haust valve 54. A mouthpiece 56 isattached to the outer wall 58 of the housing 48 as indicated by thebroken arrowed line 60. When the diver exhales through the mouthpieceinto the chamber 46, the exhaled carbon dioxide causes a build up ofpressure in the chamber 46 which opens the intake and exhaust valve 54permitting said carbon dioxide to pass into the manifold 52 wheretheresulting pressure build up closes the one-way check valve 50 andopens a pair of one-way check valves 62 and 64 in communication withsaid respective mixing chambers 24 and 26 to permit the carbon dioxideto pass therein to mingle with the gas mixture.

The housing 48 includes, a breathing chamber 46 defining portion 66, anda cover portion 68 provided with perforations 70. A diaphragm 72 isinterposed between the housing portions 66 and 68 to separate ambientwater, which enters through the perforations 70, from the chamber 46 andto actuate the bleed and demand valveassemlbly 16 as well as the intakeand exhaust valve 54 in a manner to be described. As illustrated in thedrawing, the inlet manifold 18 is positioned within the chamber 46 andincludes an intake port 74 which receives one end 76 of a tilt valve 78as indicated by the broken line 80. An adjustable valve seat member 82is fixed to the end of the singular hose 14 and receives the gas mixturetherefrom through a port 84. The member 82 also includes a convex seat85 in communication with said port 84 to receive a companionatelyconfigured enlarged head portion 86 of the tilt valve 78. As illustratedin the drawing, the valve 78 is provided with an air passage 88extending therethrough with its The intake and exhaust valve 54 includesa stem portion 92 extending into the chamber 46 and is provided with anenlarged head 94 at its inner distal end. Both the intake manifold 18and the intake and exhaust valve 54 are normally spring biased inany'convenient manner (not shown) to valve-closed positions. Whendownward forces are applied thereto in a manner to be described in thefollowing paragraph and as indicated by the force lines 100 and 102, thetilt valve 78 and the intake and exhaust valve 54 are simultaneouslyupset or opened to permit gases to flow therethrough. A flow of gas tothe tank 40 is therefore provided via the opened tilt valve 78, themanifold 18, transfer tubes 20 and 22, the mixing chambers 24 and 26,one-way check valves 28 and 30 and filters 32 and 34, and a flow ofbreathable gas is provided to the breathing chamber 46 from the tank 40via the one-way check valve 50, intake and exhaust manifold 52 and theopened intake and exhaust valve 54. The check valve 50 is adapted toopen only when the pressure in the manifold 52 drops below the pressureof the gas in the tank 40. I

The downward forces as illustrated by the force lines 100 and 102 may beprovided either by ambient water entering the housing portion 68 throughthe perforations to displace the diaphragm 72 downwardly when thepressure in the breathing chamber 46 is less than that of the ambientwater, as occasioned when the diver inhales or mechanically by means ofa button 110 which extends inwardly through a central aperature 112 inthe housing portion 68. Normally, the button is biased outwardly bymeans of a spring 114 and is adapted to be manually depressed againstthe spring forces to engage the inner distal end 116 thereof with achafe plate 118 centrally carried by the diaphragm 72, to depress saiddiaphragm and thereby upset or open the respective valves 78 and 54 inthe manner just described. The forces indicated by the lines 100 and 102may be applied by any convenient mechanical connection between thediaphragm 72 and the intake manifold and valve, 18 and 54 respectively.

An emergency crossover valve system is provided in conjunction with theinlet manifold 18. As illustrated in the drawing, a housing 120 incommunication with one end of the manifold 18 extends outwardly throughthe housing 66 to receive a push button actuated valve 122. Normally,the valve 122 is spring biased outwardly to permit the gas mixture toflow from the port 74 out through the transfer tubes 20 and 22 asdescribed; The instant an emergency occurs necessitating immediate air,the button of the valve 122 may be manually depressed causing the innerend 123 thereof to close the manifold outlets to the transfer tubes 20and 22, to short circuit the gas mixture into the breathing chamber 46via the port 74 which becomes aligned with a port 125 of a passage 126in the valve 122 and a discharge port 127 of the passage 126 whichbecomes aligned with a port 124 which opens into the breathing chamber46.

As previously stated, the underwater breathing device of the presentinvention is adapted to correctly proportion a mixture of a plurality ofgases to provide for ideal underwater breathing. This is accomplished bymeans of the automatic compensating gas proportioner 12 which includes aplurality of tilt valves 13, one for each gas inlet, which are operatedby .the pressure differential of the ambient water acting on a diaphragmin the same manner as in the operation of the tilt valve 78. Therefore,a drop in line pressure on inhale" allows the greater ambient waterpressure to actuate the diaphragm 15 against the tilt valves, unseatingthe valves and permitting a buildup of pressure within the proportioner12 to the ambient water pressure. The gases merge in the proportioner 12and flow out through the singular hose 14. The gas flow from eachpressurized supply tank (not shown) is controlled to proportion the flowof each gas to its respective tilt valve by the turning, in or out of acalibrated gas flow adjustment fitting 130.

In operation, it may be necessary to first pressurize the breathingdevice by depressing the button 110 to deflect the diaphragm 72 which inturn depresses the manifold 18 to supply the proportioned gas mixture tothe tank 40 through the tilt valve 78, transfer tubes and 22, mixingchambers 24 and 26, one-way check valves 28 and 30 and bubble releasefilters 32 and 34. Simultaneously. the stem 92 of the valve 54 isdepressed to supply the gas mixture to the breathing chamber 46 from thetank 40 via check valve 50, intake and exhaust manifold 52 and intakeand exhaust valve 54 as previously described.

Thereafter, air in tank 40, pressurized to the equilization of insideand outside pressure by the ambient water, continues to pass to thechamber 46 on demand of the user. Each timeair is drawn into the lungsfrom the breathing chamber 46 through i the mouthpiece 56, a loss ofpressure within the breathing chamber 46 causes actuation of the tiltvalve 78 and intake and exhaust valve 54 by means of the forces and 102created by the ambient water forces deflecting the diaphragm 72inwardly. The exhaled carbon dioxide builds up pressure in the breathingchamber 46, thereby opening the intake and exhaust valve 54 into themanifold 52, closing valve 50, and being diverted through the one-waycheck valves 62 and 64 where it enters the mixing chambers 24 and 26 tomerge with gas mixture gases entering through the tilt valve 78,manifold 18 and transfer tubes 20 and 22. The gas mixture and the carbondioxide become thoroughly united with each other in the mixing chambers24 and 26 and pass out through the check valves 28 and 30, when the tiltvalve 78 is opened, and air bubble release filters 32 and. 34 where thegas mixture is broken into extremely small bubbles, the gas bubblestravel through open ambient water 38, through the diffuser and chemicalfilters 42 and 44 and into the tank 40. The differential pressure of thewater bubbles the merged gases upwardly at a vigorous rate. The diffuserfilter further breaks the air bubbles into a soluble solution and thecarbon dioxide is rapidly dissipated in the water. The chemical filterinstalled immediately after the diffuser filter facilitates the rapidabsorption of any remaining foreign elements from the gas mixture beforeit enters the tank 40. The combination of the operation of theautomatically compensated gas proportioner 12 and the filter system,both being operated by the ambient water pressure, provides a constantsupply of correctly proportioned, stabilized and pressurized air to thetank 40.

The bleed and demand valve assembly 16 is made to function in a mannerso as to provide demand air each time air is inhaled from the breathingchamber 46 as described, or to provide bleed air in a continuous meteredamount to the mixing chambers 24 and 26. This is accomplished preferablyby providing an adjustable valve seat member 82 having a range ofadjustment from a demand position to a position providing apredetermined maximum amount of bleed air.

lclaim:

1. An underwater breathing device comprising:

A. a plurality of gas conduits extending from respective individualpressurized sources of supply, each of said conduits to supply aspecific gas of a different nature to said underwater breathing devicewhen said device is in use by a diver beneath the surface of the water;

B. an automatic depth compensating gas proportioner providing aninterior chamber for receiving and mixing said specific gases from saidplurality of conduits and including:

1. individual valve means for each specific gas to proportion samerelative to the others as it enters said chamber to form a favorablemixture for underwater breathing; and

2. means to pressurize said gas mixture in said interior chamber to theambient water pressure;

C. a mixing chamber for receiving said gas mixture from said automaticdepth compensating gas proportioner and carbon dioxide exhaled from thelungs of the diver;

D. a bubble release filter at the lower end of said mixing chambercommunicating with the ambient water and containing a multiplicity ofvery small apertures to break said .gas mixture and carbon dioxide intoextremely small bubbles upon passage from said bubble release filterinto the ambient water surrounding said filter;

E. a gas pressurizing storage tank having an open lower end, and beingpositioned above said bubble release filter in a position to collectsaid gas mixture from the bubbles after thecarbon dioxide has beendissipated in the ambient water, said gas mixture being automaticallypressurized in said tank by said ambient water to the ambient waterpressure;

F. a housing including a breathing chamber for receiving said gasmixture from said gas pressurizing storage tank on demand of the diverand a mouthpiece in open communication with said breathing chamber, saidhousing being positioned above said gas pressurizing storage tank;

G. means within said breathing chamber to repressurize said breathingchamber, to the ambient water, with the gas mixture from said gaspressurizing storage tank, after each demand of the diver and, tosimultaneously replenish said pressurizing storage tank with said gasmixturefrom said automatic depth compensating gas proportioner.

2, The device as set forth in claim 1 in which said individual valvemeans for each specific gas is provided with a calibrated manualadjustment means to provide for the correct proportioningof the flow ofgas through each of said valve means into said automatic depthcompensating gas proportioner.

3. An,automatic underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 2 in,which said means to pressurize the gas mixture in said interior chamberof said automatic depth compensating gas proportioner to ambient waterpressure comprises, a diaphragm, forming one side wall of said interiorchamber, having its outer side open to ambient water pressure and saidindividual valve means being positioned interior of the chamber to beactuated by inward deflection of said diaphragm by said ambient waterpressure when the pressure in said interior chamber falls below theambient water pressure.

4. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 3 including ableed or demand valve means intermediate said automatic depthcompensating gas proportioner and said mixing chamber, said bleed ordemand valve means including a hose connection t said automatic depthcompensating gas proportioner for receiving said gas mixturetherethrough and providing manual adjustment means to selectively supplysaid gas mixture to said mixing chamber ondemand of the diver or tocontinuously supply saidgas mixture thereto on a controlled meteredbleed basis.

5. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 1 including adiffuser filter spanning the open lower end of said automatic gaspressurizing storage tank to further break said bubbles into a solublesolution to facilitate the dissipation of the carbon dioxide therefrom.

6. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 5 includingachemical filter immediately above said diffuser filter to absorb anyremaining foreign elements from said gas mixture.

7. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 4 including apair of mixing chambers in communication with said bleed or demand valvemeans, each of said pair providing a bubble release filter at the lowerend thereof positioned beneath said open lower end of said storage tankand containing a multiplicity of very small apertures to break saidmixture of gases and carbon dioxide into extremely small bubbles uponpassage into ambient water to be collected in said storage tank afterthe carbon dioxide has been dissipated in said ambient water.

8. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 7 including aninlet manifold intermediate said bleed or demand valve and said pair ofmixing chambers to distribute said gas mixture thereto.

9. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 8 including anintake and exhaust manifold communicating between said automatic gaspressurizing storage tank and said breathing chamber, said intake andexhaust manifold providing a first valve means, between it and saidbreathing chamber. responsive to ambient water pressure to open saidbreathing chamber to said intake and exhaust manifold when the pres surein said breathing chamber is less than ambient water pressure, and asecond valve means between said intake and exhaust manifold and saidautomatic gas pressurizing storage tank which is responsive to ambientwater pressure to open said second valve means to said automatic gaspressurizing storage tank when the pressure in said manifold is lessthan said ambient water pressure to permit said gas mixture in saidautomatic gas pressurizing storage tank to pass through said secondvalve means, intake and exhaust manifold, and first valve means to saidbreathing chamber on demand of said diver.

10. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 9 in which saidfirst valve means in said intake and exhaust manifold is tiltable to anopen position in response to ambient water pressure when the pressure insaid breathing chamber is less than ambient water pressure and axiallymovable to an open position when carbon dioxide is exhaled through saidmouthpiece into said breathing chamber creating a greater pressure insaid breathing chamber than that existing in said intake and exhaustmanifold.

11. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 10 including athird and fourth valve means in said intake and exhaust manifoldcommunicating respectively with said pair of mixing chambers, said thirdand fourth valve means being responsive to the pressures greater thanambient water pressure, created by said exhaled carbon dioxide, topermit said carbon dioxide in said intake and exhaust manifold to passtherethrough into said mixing chambers.

12. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 11 in whichsaid inlet manifold is positioned within said breathing chamber andincludes an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports for supplying said gasmixture to said pair of mixing chambers from said bleed or demand valvemeans, said inlet port being operably connected to said bleed or demandvalve to supply said gas mixture to said mixing chambers on demand ofsaid diver.

13. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 12 in whichsaid first valve means in said intake and exhaust manifold includes astern portion extending into said breathing chamber.

14. An underwater breathing device: as set forth in claim 13 in whichsaid breathing chamber in said housing includes a diaphragm forming theenclosure for one side wall of said breathing chamber, the outer sideface of said diaphragm being open to ambient water pressure whichdeflects said diaphragm inwardly when the pressure in said breathingchamber is less than said ambient water pressure.

15. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 14 in whichsaid inlet manifold is spring biased to hold the bleed or demand valvemeans in a normal closed position and said first valve means in saidintake and exhaust manifold is spring biased to a normal closedposition.

16. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 15 in whichsaid breathing chamber diaphragm is operably connected to said sternportion of said first valve means to actuate same, upon inwarddeflection of said diaphragm, to open said breathing chamber to saidautomatic gas pressurizing storage tank to repressurize said breathingchamber to ambient water pressure after each demand of the: diver, saidbreathing chamber diaphragm similarly being operably connected to saidinlet manifold which is operably connected to said bleed or demand valveto actuate said bleed or demand valve means to replenish the supply ofgas mixture drawn from said automatic gas pressurizing storage tankafter each demand of the diver.

17. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 16 including amanual pressurizing valve, operable on said breathing chamber diaphragm,to permit initial pressurization of the entire system of said underwaterbreathing device by a diver upon entering the water.

18. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 17 vin whichsaid manual pressurizing valve includes a button member having its innerend in contact with the outer side of said breathing chamber diaphragmand its outer end extending outwardly of said breathing chamber housing,said button member being normally spring biased outwardly to an offposition and manually depressable inwardly to depress said breathingchamber diaphragm to pressurize said system.

19. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 8

1. An underwater breathing device comprising: A. a plurality of gasconduits extending from respective individual pressurized sources ofsupply, each of said conduits to supply a specific gas of a differentnature to said underwater breathing device when said device is in use bya diver beneath the surface of the water; B. an automatic depthcompensating gas proportioner providing an interior chamber forreceiving and mixing said specific gases from said plurality of conduitsand including:
 1. individual valve means for each specific gas toproportion same relative to the others as it enters said chamber to forma favorable mixture for underwater breathing; and
 2. means to pressurizesaid gas mixture in said interior chamber to the ambient water pressure;C. a mixing chamber for receiving said gas mixture from said automaticdepth compensating gas proportioner and carbon dioxide exhaled from thelungs of the diver; D. a bubble release filter at the lower end of saidmixing chamber communicating with the ambient water and containing amultiplicity of very small apertures to break said gas mixture andcarbon dioxide into extremely small bubbles upon passage from saidbubble release filter into the ambient water surrounding said filter; E.a gas pressurizing storage tank having an open lower end, and beingpositioned above said bubble release filter in a position to collectsaid gas mixture from the bubbles after the carbon dioxide has beendissipated in the ambient water, said gas mixture being automaticallypressurized in said tank by said ambient water to the ambient waterpressure; F. a housing including a breathing chamber for receiving saidgas mixture from said gas pressurizing storage tank on demand of thediver and a mouthpiece in open communication with said breathingchamber, said housing being positioned above said gas pressurizingstorage tank; G. means within said breathing chamber to repressurizesaid breathing chamber, to the ambient water, with the gas mixture fromsaid gas pressurizing storage tank, after each demand of the diver andto simultaneously replenish said pressurizing storage tank with said gasmixture from said automatic depth compensating gas proportioner.
 2. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1 in which said individual valve means foreach specific gas is provided with a calibrated manual adjustment meansto provide for the correct proportioning of the flow of gas through eachof said valve means into said automatic depth compensating gasproportioner.
 2. means to pressurize said gas mixture in said interiorchamber to the ambient water pressure; C. a mixing chamber for receivingsaid gas mixture from said automatic depth compensating gas proportionerand carbon dioxide exhaled from the lungs of the diver; D. a bubblerelease filter at the lower end of said mixing chamber communicatingwith the ambient water and containing a multiplicity of very smallapertures to break said gas mixture and carbon dioxide into extremelysmall bubbles upon passage from said bubble release filter into theambient water surrounding said filter; E. a gas pressurizing storagetank having an open lower end, and being positioned above said bubblerelease filter in a position to collect said gas mixture from thebubbles after the carbon dioxide has been dissipated in the ambientwater, said gas mixture being automatically pressurized in said tank bysaid ambient water to the ambient water pressure; F. a housing includinga breathing chamber for receiving said gas mixture from said gaspressurizing storage tank on demand of the diver and a mouthpiece inopen communication with said breathing chamber, said housing beingpositioned above said gas pressurizing storage tank; G. means withinsaid breathing chamber to repressurize said breathing chamber, to theambient water, with the gas mixture from said gas pressurizing storagetank, after each demand of the diver and to simultaneously replenishsaid pressurizing storage tank with said gas mixture from said automaticdepth compensating gas proportioner.
 3. An automatic underwaterbreathing device as set forth in claim 2 in which said means topressurize the gas mixture in said interior chamber of said automaticdepth compensating gas proportioner to ambient water pressure comprises,a diaphragm, forming one side wall of said interior chamber, having itsouter side open to ambient water pressure and said individual valvemeans being positioned interior of the chamber to be actuated by inwarddeflection of said diaphragm by said ambient water pressure when thepressurE in said interior chamber falls below the ambient waterpressure.
 4. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 3including a bleed or demand valve means intermediate said automaticdepth compensating gas proportioner and said mixing chamber, said bleedor demand valve means including a hose connection to said automaticdepth compensating gas proportioner for receiving said gas mixturetherethrough and providing manual adjustment means to selectively supplysaid gas mixture to said mixing chamber on demand of the diver or tocontinuously supply said gas mixture thereto on a controlled meteredbleed basis.
 5. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 1including a diffuser filter spanning the open lower end of saidautomatic gas pressurizing storage tank to further break said bubblesinto a soluble solution to facilitate the dissipation of the carbondioxide therefrom.
 6. An underwater breathing device as set forth inclaim 5 including a chemical filter immediately above said diffuserfilter to absorb any remaining foreign elements from said gas mixture.7. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 4 including apair of mixing chambers in communication with said bleed or demand valvemeans, each of said pair providing a bubble release filter at the lowerend thereof positioned beneath said open lower end of said storage tankand containing a multiplicity of very small apertures to break saidmixture of gases and carbon dioxide into extremely small bubbles uponpassage into ambient water to be collected in said storage tank afterthe carbon dioxide has been dissipated in said ambient water.
 8. Anunderwater breathing device as set forth in claim 7 including an inletmanifold intermediate said bleed or demand valve and said pair of mixingchambers to distribute said gas mixture thereto.
 9. An underwaterbreathing device as set forth in claim 8 including an intake and exhaustmanifold communicating between said automatic gas pressurizing storagetank and said breathing chamber, said intake and exhaust manifoldproviding a first valve means, between it and said breathing chamber,responsive to ambient water pressure to open said breathing chamber tosaid intake and exhaust manifold when the pressure in said breathingchamber is less than ambient water pressure, and a second valve meansbetween said intake and exhaust manifold and said automatic gaspressurizing storage tank which is responsive to ambient water pressureto open said second valve means to said automatic gas pressurizingstorage tank when the pressure in said manifold is less than saidambient water pressure to permit said gas mixture in said automatic gaspressurizing storage tank to pass through said second valve means,intake and exhaust manifold, and first valve means to said breathingchamber on demand of said diver.
 10. An underwater breathing device asset forth in claim 9 in which said first valve means in said intake andexhaust manifold is tiltable to an open position in response to ambientwater pressure when the pressure in said breathing chamber is less thanambient water pressure and axially movable to an open position whencarbon dioxide is exhaled through said mouthpiece into said breathingchamber creating a greater pressure in said breathing chamber than thatexisting in said intake and exhaust manifold.
 11. An underwaterbreathing device as set forth in claim 10 including a third and fourthvalve means in said intake and exhaust manifold communicatingrespectively with said pair of mixing chambers, said third and fourthvalve means being responsive to the pressures greater than ambient waterpressure, created by said exhaled carbon dioxide, to permit said carbondioxide in said intake and exhaust manifold to pass therethrough intosaid mixing chambers.
 12. An underwater breathing device as set forth inclaim 11 in which said inlet manifold is positioned within saidbreathing chamber and includes an inlet port and a pair of outlet portsfoR supplying said gas mixture to said pair of mixing chambers from saidbleed or demand valve means, said inlet port being operably connected tosaid bleed or demand valve to supply said gas mixture to said mixingchambers on demand of said diver.
 13. An underwater breathing device asset forth in claim 12 in which said first valve means in said intake andexhaust manifold includes a stem portion extending into said breathingchamber.
 14. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 13 inwhich said breathing chamber in said housing includes a diaphragmforming the enclosure for one side wall of said breathing chamber, theouter side face of said diaphragm being open to ambient water pressurewhich deflects said diaphragm inwardly when the pressure in saidbreathing chamber is less than said ambient water pressure.
 15. Anunderwater breathing device as set forth in claim 14 in which said inletmanifold is spring biased to hold the bleed or demand valve means in anormal closed position and said first valve means in said intake andexhaust manifold is spring biased to a normal closed position.
 16. Anunderwater breathing device as set forth in claim 15 in which saidbreathing chamber diaphragm is operably connected to said stem portionof said first valve means to actuate same, upon inward deflection ofsaid diaphragm, to open said breathing chamber to said automatic gaspressurizing storage tank to repressurize said breathing chamber toambient water pressure after each demand of the diver, said breathingchamber diaphragm similarly being operably connected to said inletmanifold which is operably connected to said bleed or demand valve toactuate said bleed or demand valve means to replenish the supply of gasmixture drawn from said automatic gas pressurizing storage tank aftereach demand of the diver.
 17. An underwater breathing device as setforth in claim 16 including a manual pressurizing valve, operable onsaid breathing chamber diaphragm, to permit initial pressurization ofthe entire system of said underwater breathing device by a diver uponentering the water.
 18. An underwater breathing device as set forth inclaim 17 in which said manual pressurizing valve includes a buttonmember having its inner end in contact with the outer side of saidbreathing chamber diaphragm and its outer end extending outwardly ofsaid breathing chamber housing, said button member being normally springbiased outwardly to an ''''off'''' position and manually depressableinwardly to depress said breathing chamber diaphragm to pressurize saidsystem.
 19. An underwater breathing device as set forth in claim 8 inwhich said inlet manifold includes an emergency crossover valve, saidvalve being receivable in said inlet manifold, being normally springbiased outwardly to an ''''off'''' position, and including a headportion, extending outwardly of said breathing chamber housing, adaptedto be manually depressed to shut off the flow of said gas mixture tosaid mixing chambers and to short circuit same directly into saidbreathing chamber.